Harrison County grand jury indicts couple on dog fighting charges

A couple accused of luring a dog into a mobile home to fight with their pit bull was indicted by a Harrison County grand jury this week for dog fight: participating in earning/providing a building.

Frednando Wallace, 30, and his common law wife Amanda Phillips, 25, were arrested after someone told authorities about a possible dog fight taking place at an abandoned mobile home in the 6700 block of E. U.S. 80 in Longview.

The dog fight occurred on Dec. 28, according to a Harrison County Sheriff's Office press release. Phillips was arrested at the scene that day.

However, Wallace fled the scene before officials arrived. He returned later that evening and made a retaliatory threat to the neighbor for notifying authorities and allegedly threw a rock at the complainant's window.

Officials issued a warrant out for his arrest, and he was arrested in February by state troopers following a traffic stop in Gregg County.

Wallace was also indicted for obstruction or retaliation.

The dogs involved in the were removed from the location by Marshall Animal Control the day of the incident.

Also indicted this week was JeCori Howard, 19, for two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to Howard's indictment, he allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a child younger than age 14 on Jan. 22, 2012, and Aug. 15, 2010.

Denver Cass Simmons, 30, was indicted for aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping. According to his indictment, Simmons allegedly raped a woman at knifepoint on Jan. 10 and abducted her, threatening her with a knife.